A Basket "full" of Babies

In the past few weeks I've not been doing much beading...it's the time of year for taxes...which I'm not done with yet...and I've had several other "irons in the fire"...one is this basket "full" of babies...they are all (except the blue one with the peyote face") about 3" tall...and ready to bead...why?...you ask...did I make all these babies...I think it's because I'm a trifle "OCD"...and once I get something in my head it's hard to steer me the other way...ha...I think there are over 75 babies of different colors...it takes me about 45 min to an hour to complete one from cutting out to sewing my initials into the bottom of the stuffed baby...my Valentine Babies were made from two of the patterns seen here...there are 7 different patterns all together...and I tried to make about 4 per color...obviously not all colors have each of the 7 patterns...but...I was so involved with other things that beading was just not formost in my mind...and this I could do while watching TV at night with my husband...they reside in this little basket...at least til I decide what to do with them and how to bead them...
And what else has been going on down here in Cocoa Beach? BEAUTIFUL WEATHER this weekend...and a few of the days in the past month...have had some rain...but like much of the southeast...we're in drought mode (folks can only water their lawns on certain days of the week)...so the rain...though it cuts into my golf...is sorely needed...
One discovery I made...I'm not a "candidate" for Lyrica for my fibromyalgia...not because I can't get it...but because I tried it...was on it for 3 weeks and gained 10 lbs. was dizzy and my balance was terrible...and found it hard to breathe...plus my darling husband couldn't sleep...snoring...so yesterday was the first day without it...and I already feel better...back to Advil...
I've been teaching the new Weight Management Classes at Curves...they have revamped their Weight Management System...and now it's so much easier to follow...plus...you can join the class whether you belong to Curves or not...as long as you buy the book...which is reasonable...so that has taken up some of my time with preparing to teach...and then the acutal teaching...
I've got a "call" out to the ladies at Curves...and anyone else who would like to join us...to have a walking group...(strength in numbers...I knew darn good and well I would do better having someone to walk with...I got the April 2008 Prevention Magazine...and in it was an article on how to train for half and whole marathons...anyone who has known me for very long knows I DON'T run...but this training is for walking them...now whether I'll ever do a whole marathon remains to be seen...I would give that about a 2% chance of happening...ha...but if I can get a group together that wants to train for the half one...or even just wants to join a walking group without doing any events...I might do a half one...we'll see...with the fibromyalgia I'll just have to take it a day at a time...but we're going to give it our best shot...not only will we feel better for the exercise...a lot of half and whole marathons are in neat places...like New York City, Philadelphia, Las Vegas...so...this will be a "traveling" group as well...wish us luck!
Other than that...mostly I've been trying to make it through the first (an last) three weeks of Lyrica...working on taxes...making the little babies you saw at the beginning of this post...and playing golf...about a week or so ago I shot the BEST I've ever shot on 18 holes...hooray...it was a 79...though highly unusual...was lots of fun while playing...and made me feel wonderful when I saw the final score...since that time I'm back to my regular mid to high 80's...but every once in a while "everything goes just right"...all the stars are in alignment so to speak...my girlfriend and I are going to play in the Scrambles at the beginning of May for the Little League...we did it last year and had a lot of fun...
The biggest and most important thing I've been doing lately...getting ready for the 2009 "Pink Ribbon Turtles" Project...this year I'm inviting artists from every medium...there are 5 different projects to choose from...and I already know we'll do better this year than we've ever done before! PLEASE go to www.atawhisper.com/prt.htm to find out all of the information about this year's turtles...
Have a blessed Easter!

Meet "Eedie"

My Grandma Edith...my father's mother...loved elephants...and aquas and blues...so this little gal...Eedie...is named for her...another of my "little" dolls...she stands about 3" tall...

I'm working on 4 more dolls...they are a little larger...but not much...I find the little ones fun because they come to life quickly...

Hope you are having a lovely day!

Ella Belle...Life is Swell!

I made a doll for my granddaughter, Ella. Though it saddens me greatly that I am not allowed to know her (my daughter and I have been estranged since before she was born...prayers are needed and welcome...), I always pray and hope that one day not only will Ella know I love her...but that she will receive her. About a year ago or so I drew a picture of a little girl and named her Ella Belle...partly after my granddaughter and partly after my mom (Ninabelle)...when I decided to make Ella a doll it only seemed right to make Ms. Ella Belle! It was a challenge...I had to make a pattern for the doll...and her clothes...but they turned out pretty well...I even made panties...since she is wearing a skirt.

She has little sandals and I made her a beaded hair snood. Her arms and legs are bendable (I put wire in them).

Hope you are having a wonderful day!

"Little Miss Lotus"

When I finished and posted the "Prayer and Praise" doll someone asked if I could make a little dolly that was sitting in the Yoga Lotus positions.

I thought about it for a few days and decided that I could use the "Prayer and Praise" doll pattern and alter it just a bit and manage to get her done.

I increased her size a little, attached her legs differently and crossed them in a Lotus position. She is approx. 6" tall and 5" from knee to knee.


So now here she sits ready to be sent to her new "momma". I can't wait to see what she looks like when she is beaded...I bet she will be spectacular!

I can make this doll for you...or you can purchase the pattern and make her yourself!

Prayer and Praise Doll

Lifting her head and arm in praise and on her knees in prayer, she thanks her heavenly Father for His mercy and saving grace and beseeches him with humble prayer.

I will have to watch her...she is new...I made her not too long ago...but I'm not sure yet what she wants be clothed in.

So far she hasn't a name either...but I'm sure she will let me know what she wishes to be called.

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This doll form is made of white felt, each piece sewn, stuffed and attached with hand sewn blanket stitch.

A pattern will be available soon. www.atawhisper.com

In A Tizzy "Lizzy"!

Here she is...all complete!

When I was little my mom would tell my sister and I...when we would get out of sorts or overly excitable about something..."Don't get in a tizzy, Lizzy."


When I was finishing this Sampler doll I looked at her shape...with her hands thrown in the air...her hair...that I'd made stand straight out by sticking ball-end straight pins in and then snipping the ball off...and her mouth that is a bit on the crooked side...and her great big eyes...and that's all I could think of.


So...my Sampler dolly is finished...her picture is in the Sampler book and her name...why "Lizzy" of course!


Now...I have to go get busy on all my other projects...hmmmmmm...which one first...

Samples and Symbols

Well...this is her humble beginning...my little Sampler Doll. I joined a yahoogroup called Beaded Art Dolls and have been having a ball! The first dolly I decided to try was the Sampler Doll. I've never beaded a doll's face before...well...except for putting a bead where each eye was supposed to be anyway. This time I had to use tiny beads (15's) and bead the entire face. Now mind you the doll itself is only about 4.5" tall...so beading a tiny face with such tiny beads was almost overwhelming...and something I probably won't do again. (Momma said never say never...so I'll just say probably). Each of the rows of color are supposed to be a different "bead embroidery stitch"...and we were supposed to pick only 6 colors for the 6 stitches. I didn't exactly follow ALL of the directions exactly...but I did alright. I picked 6 basic colors...but used different sizes, styles and shades of that color bead for the doll. I'm nearly done and will post her picture as soon as she is complete. Right now I'm trying to figure out what I can use between her front and back to make her stiff enough to stand tall...well...as tall as a 4.5" doll can stand anyway! "grin"

The other doll I decided to work on is the symbolic doll. I'll tell you more about her once I REALLY get started on her. The change in font color should at least give you an idea of the colors I've picked for her...more about her at another time!

May you be blessed.